Amazing, talk of NOT rebuilding N.O.

[Lewen]

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#075833 (http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09.html#075833)


WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert dropped a bombshell on flood-ravaged New Orleans on Thursday by suggesting that it isn’t sensible to rebuild the city.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Hastert told the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago in editions published today. "And it's a question that certainly we should ask."

Amazing...simply amazing.


The Illinois Republican’s comments drew an immediate rebuke from Louisiana officials.

“That’s like saying we should shut down Los Angeles because it’s built in an earthquake zone,” former Sen. John Breaux, D-La., said. “Or like saying that after the Great Chicago fire of 1871, the U.S. government should have just abandoned the city.”

Hastert said that he supports an emergency bailout, but raised questions about a long-term rebuilding effort. As the most powerful voice in the Republican-controlled House, Hastert is in a position to block any legislation that he opposes.

I'm just stunned that this is even brought up...but I suppose with New Orleans 80% under water, life at they know it will be substantially different.

For all local news from the Times Picayune, the New Orleans main newspaper go to www.nola.com (www.nola.com) and you'll get all the updates plus a forums with info about people found and people missing etc.

This is just....words can't describe how heavy my heart is right now.

[Shanti]

Heck they have no place to go with the toxic soup there other than tossing it in the gulf. The soil is contaminated. Its an environmental disaster. It may not be livable for a long time anyhow.

Read this.
Link (http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=2060811#post2060811)

[TaysatWesir]

WOW! :goodgrief :holycow: :sadeyes:

[Psypress]

That is so disheartening. All I've been thinking about the past year and a half was that N.O. was on top of my list of vacation spots. If only it wasn't a matter of cost, I would've ben able to go out there before all this happened. A good lesson in living for the moment.
Last night, I was imagining N.O. becoming a lost city (like Atlantis, or something), but I was just daydreaming. Sad to hear that officials are actually considering *not* rebuilding it. But I understand the reluctancy. It's not the smartest location for a city.

[starfire]

wow, this is something I wondered about. Needless to say these people are going to have to be put up somewhere and relocated. Some may not want to go back, others will. Such a shame

[Xander67]

nonsense, :hairraise Thankfully Hastert does not speak for the entire nation.
new orleans will come back ... it may take a while, but they will rebuild...
washington is just talking crap. all the evacuees that I have seen interviewed say that they will rebuild... the spirit of the big easy is not so easily broken...

[Isil Darkmoon]

Right. THe people "need to take responsibility" for "insisting" on living "in harm's way". Because how DARE they set up in an existing, thriving city, that was *above sea level* when it was founded 400ish years ago and has SUNK since then to below? It's not like the city was ever intentionally set up in a giant basin--much like Mexico City, no one knew what was underneat or how it would react. This makes me so damn mad. :fpcsucks

[Xander67]

Exactly, those people knew there was a chance they would get a hurricaine...

Camile did a number on them , but they rebuilt...
We can all learn from this and move on... keep in mind alot of what was destroyed was built hundreds of years ago, and even the most recent buildings were not built to withstand the storm surge... It wasnt the wind that did most of the damage, it was the storm surge, and the flooding..

those rooftops were shingled with stapleguns... the older Nailed down shingles dont blow away as easily...

when we redid my grandma's roof this year, I argued with my sister for them to use NAILGUNS , because they were alot more sturdier than staples...

[Starry Di]

Right. THe people "need to take responsibility" for "insisting" on living "in harm's way". Because how DARE they set up in an existing, thriving city, that was *above sea level* when it was founded 400ish years ago and has SUNK since then to below? It's not like the city was ever intentionally set up in a giant basin--much like Mexico City, no one knew what was underneat or how it would react. This makes me so damn mad. :fpcsucks
They've been warned since the 1940's that it was gonna sink under...

[Lewen]

Got an e-mail from someone I know that evacuated to Dallas. She says they are planning to stay there since there's talk of no school for a year....a year!!!! Makes sense, but that's just unfathomable.

I know that the die-hards will come back and it will be rebuilt, would it be the same? only time will tell. As for Mardi Gras, the kids and I will make our own king cake and we will have our own parade in honor of those that didn't make it for the next one or future ones.

This is just so sad...but they will endure and rebuild. Hopefully they'll have come up with new plans for evacuation for future hurricanes. We were so close for so many years but this time apparently our luck ran out a little bit.

Jefferson parish is under 75% of water, not sure what will be rebuilt and what will be left. Time will tell once we get the people out of imminant danger.

[Starry Di]

and even the most recent buildings were not built to withstand the storm surge...
Why worry about the buildings? Buildings standing are the least of New Orlean's problems. I'd be more worried about the leeves being able to take alot of weight, far more than I'd be worried about the buildings. Cause the building is as good as gone anyways once the leeve breaks...which was just proven in the last week.

[Starry Di]

This is just so sad...but they will endure and rebuild. Hopefully they'll have come up with new plans for evacuation for future hurricanes. We were so close for so many years but this time apparently our luck ran out a little bit.
Why? Why would you want to rebuild in the same place that's sunk even *more* under sea level? That's *insane* That's like building your house on an active volcano. It's wasting money to rebuild there. It's gonna get flooded again, and eventually, it's going to totally sink under the water and be a lost city. We've been warned about this since the 1940's or so. I personally view this flooding as a warning not to build or live anywhere near water. Well...another warning since the Tsunami.

I understand the desire to rebuild the city, but why not rebuild it in a more safe place...one that's not below sea level?

[Xander67]

Why worry about the buildings? Buildings standing are the least of New Orlean's problems. I'd be more worried about the leeves being able to take alot of weight, far more than I'd be worried about the buildings. Cause the building is as good as gone anyways once the leeve breaks...which was just proven in the last week.

You need to take those things into consideration when rebuilding, The Buildings and the levee, I mentioned that in my post that we need to consider the levees...

[Starry Di]

Sorry :$ I totally missed that :$

[Lewen]

Why? Why would you want to rebuild in the same place that's sunk even *more* under sea level? That's *insane* That's like building your house on an active volcano. It's wasting money to rebuild there. It's gonna get flooded again, and eventually, it's going to totally sink under the water and be a lost city. We've been warned about this since the 1940's or so. I personally view this flooding as a warning not to build or live anywhere near water. Well...another warning since the Tsunami.

I understand the desire to rebuild the city, but why not rebuild it in a more safe place...one that's not below sea level?

Probably for the same reason that those that live in an earthquake zone would rebuild around there. Unless you've lived there and were born and raised there you wouldn't understand. Personally, I'm not there, I moved to be closer to my family and kin in Philadelphia, PA due to divorce. I didnt' stick around, but for those whose generations and blood run deep, who knows?!?! They will find a way much like the ants rebuild their anthill every time it gets wiped out.

[Madame De La Mort]

Noooooo the French Quater!!! Gosh I am going to miss that place

[Lewen]

Noooooo the French Quater!!! Gosh I am going to miss that place
It survived relatively unscathed as it is still three feet above sea level, last I read and heard.

[Isil Darkmoon]

Why? Why would you want to rebuild in the same place that's sunk even *more* under sea level? That's *insane* That's like building your house on an active volcano. It's wasting money to rebuild there. It's gonna get flooded again, and eventually, it's going to totally sink under the water and be a lost city. We've been warned about this since the 1940's or so. I personally view this flooding as a warning not to build or live anywhere near water. Well...another warning since the Tsunami.

I understand the desire to rebuild the city, but why not rebuild it in a more safe place...one that's not below sea level?

It's pretty much impossible to *build* a major port city between the Mississippi and the Gulf that isn't at or below sea level, just by definition. It's not just a matter of "pick somewhere else to build." It's a choice between building/rebuilding on "risky" ground, or giving up on a major waterway access. Quite a catch .22

[Madame De La Mort]

It survived relatively unscathed as it is still three feet above sea level, last I read and heard.
Thats good but its getting to it thats the problem. The levees don't work. I think they should build the city back kind of like Venice Italy

[Starry Di]

It's pretty much impossible to *build* a major port city between the Mississippi and the Gulf that isn't at or below sea level, just by definition. It's not just a matter of "pick somewhere else to build." It's a choice between building/rebuilding on "risky" ground, or giving up on a major waterway access. Quite a catch .22

I understand the point where you have to rebuild for ports and stuff...I just don't get the point of rebuilding to allow people to live there.


Probably for the same reason that those that live in an earthquake zone would rebuild around there. Unless you've lived there and were born and raised there you wouldn't understand.

Actually, I can understand why you'd rebuild in an Earthquake zone, as I wish to *live* in an earth quake zone. Which, while it's stupid of me, it's sort of smart at the same time. There is no Earthquake season :D


According to some random page (http://seismo.unr.edu/htdocs/quakefaq.html) :
Hundreds of small earthquakes happen every day, most of which go unfelt. A magnitude 8 earthquake usually occurs somewhere on the earth once every year. The largest earthquake ever recorded was in Chile on May 22, 1960, with a magnitude (Mw) of 9.5. The largest earthquake in Nevada was the 1915 Pleasant Valley earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.3.

Hey, only one major earth quake a year compared to...I can't find how often the US gets hurricanes. But I'd say about 1 or 2 major ones a year. At most 5, but that's really stretching it. Not to mention the whole fact that there's been rumours of Florida and California sinking into the sea. So I'd rather take my chances with Arizona...which has earthquakes, yes, but hopefully they'll be no worse than those in California :D

[starfire]

When you think of it, how many places do you know that are built on landfill? They allow it all the time. These areas are prone to flooding, but they are allowed to do it.

Something like what happen there doesn't happen everyday. It is one of "those" things, so I guess people figure it will be a long time before it happens again.

Look at all the twisters that demolish things, yet people still live in those areas, still rebuild.....We have local areas that get flooded around here, and people still live there and move there knowing it could happen again.

I live within feet of a fault line, yes the ground has shaken a few times, things have broke and not to far away people have died, but look how packed California is especially Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I think it is just human nature.

[Storm Moon]

:( That's sad. They need to rebuild. It might take awhile, but I believe it can be done.

[Élistariel]

I hope they rebuild. I want to visit my birthcity some day. My mom was supposed to take me when I was 16, but certain events lead to that never happening.
Great, I've been to one of the most fascinating cities in the US, and I don't remember it.

[Madame De La Mort]

lol its okay

[DixieWitch]

People from Louisiana are too hard headed NOT to rebuild!! I should know....I'm one of those hard head Louisianians!!! It'll take years, but it will be rebuilt!! I just hope they plan better or that they can. To make the levees more stable, if that can be done. Not rebuilding New Orleans would be the same as if people would have deserted New York after 9/11. You can't have a huge city go under never to rise again. NO may never be the same again, but it will be there, only different.

[Xander67]

what they need to do is rebuild the levvees to withstand more water than what has been...

[Madame De La Mort]

People from Louisiana are too hard headed NOT to rebuild!! I should know....I'm one of those hard head Louisianians!!! It'll take years, but it will be rebuilt!! I just hope they plan better or that they can. To make the levees more stable, if that can be done. Not rebuilding New Orleans would be the same as if people would have deserted New York after 9/11. You can't have a huge city go under never to rise again. NO may never be the same again, but it will be there, only different.
Okay chick in Louisian here as well.

[Xander67]

are you hard headed too :eyebrow: :hugz:

[Mab]

I just..........it's history.........it's so full of culture.........there's so much that would be lost forever...............I just......I can't believe contemplating not rebuilding.....

I'm so sad right now. I just can't believe it. They HAVE to rebuild it. It's a huge part of American history & culture. And I haven't been there yet. Talk about having a huge feeling of urgency to do everything........

They just can't not rebuild. They can't.

[Penthesilea]

are you hard headed too :eyebrow: :hugz:It may not be possible or advisable to rebuild the lowest areas of the city but the Port and its facilities are vital to the national economy. For that reason, the city will be rebuit. I do think hard thought should be given to the question of where to rebuild and how much rebuilding to do. The reborn New Orleans could end up being a smaller -- but safer -- city.

[Xander67]

oh I think there should be a bit of common sense used when they start building homes again, yes... by all means, SAFETY FIRST

I will agree with you... but also, I feel that It is not right to tell someone NOT to build... If they have the money to build, and can afford the insurance, and as long as they are aware of the risks involved, then no one has the right to violate thier consitutional right to own land reguardless of how far above or below sea level it is.. as long as they can get a CO, .... Im sure the building codes will be a bit tougher in the wake of katrina...

[banondraig]

I understand the point where you have to rebuild for ports and stuff...I just don't get the point of rebuilding to allow people to live there.



Actually, I can understand why you'd rebuild in an Earthquake zone, as I wish to *live* in an earth quake zone. Which, while it's stupid of me, it's sort of smart at the same time. There is no Earthquake season :D



Hey, only one major earth quake a year compared to...I can't find how often the US gets hurricanes. But I'd say about 1 or 2 major ones a year. At most 5, but that's really stretching it. Not to mention the whole fact that there's been rumours of Florida and California sinking into the sea. So I'd rather take my chances with Arizona...which has earthquakes, yes, but hopefully they'll be no worse than those in California :D

arizona has earthquakes???

you learn something new every day.

[Xander67]

A good example of this is what we saw this spring in California, all those homes built up along that hill... all gone in a matter of minutes as the earth crumbled beneath them during the mud slides...

But that was thier stupidity, they knew the danger, and they build, so they lost out...

Personally, I will take 25 or 50 acres out in texas far enough inland from the gulf thank you.... lol
Sure there are tornadoes out there, but that is what storm cellars are for :)

[Penthesilea]

oh I think there should be a bit of common sense used when they start building homes again, yes... by all means, SAFETY FIRST

I will agree with you... but also, I feel that It is not right to tell someone NOT to build... If they have the money to build, and can afford the insurance, and as long as they are aware of the risks involved, then no one has the right to violate thier consitutional right to own land reguardless of how far above or below sea level it is.. as long as they can get a CO, .... Im sure the building codes will be a bit tougher in the wake of katrina...Of course, let them build where they want -- just be sure that they know the risks and understand that the Federal Government won't bail them out financially if they knowingly build in a flood zone. And the building codes had better be stricter after this! The very lowest parts of the city should be made into parks and not built on at all. Of course, before anything can be rebuilt, the city has to be drained and only the Goddess knows what will be left in the ground once the water is gone. It may not be safe to rebuild in some places.

[Xander67]

I agree.

[SwordsFlameSong]

Grand Forks ND flooded mighty bad a handful of years back or so. Then to top it off there was a fire. Lot of buildings were lost etc. They rebuilt.

New Orleans will come back.

[Shanti]

Its unique.
Its a toxic waste dump.
The soils contaminated.
Its not just storm ravished, its an environmental catastrophe.

[Agaliha]

Its unique.
Its a toxic waste dump.
The soils contaminated.
Its not just storm ravished, its an environmental catastrophe.


Just what I was going to bring up. There are chemicals in the thousands dumped into that water. ALL toxic. Not to mention all the household clearning products, oils, dead bodies, dead animals, seuage, and everything else.
Sure you can rebuild, but that soil and land is contaminated all the way.
In NOLA is going to be under water for 6 months like perdicted, that is 6 months of toxic water to "brew" and set more and more into the waters and earth.
We're talking about cancers and health problems for years --think Erin Brockovich, but a 1000 times worse, there it was a few chemicals, here it is well into the 1000s and more.
Would I want to live there after? HELL NO.
You can't eat anything off that land. No coffee production. No shrimp and crawfish or anything caught NEAR there. No fruit off trees that have taken the toxins in.
The dust of dirt they walk on will be teaming with contaminates.
Would you want to live there? Have your kids exposed to that? Eat things from here?
Hell, people already are by walking though all that watch. I won't be suprized to see cancers and birth defects as many chemicals are put into the body though osmosis.
It's a nightmare.
One that needs to be dealt with before people rush in and build.
This is not a normal disaster.
Something else needs to be done.

[~Anamorata~]

I heard that myself...move it to another location. It's been done with other cities, why not New Orleans?

[Isil Darkmoon]

I heard that myself...move it to another location. It's been done with other cities, why not New Orleans?

Um... because New Orleans was founded specifically where it was to serve as a major port city for the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.

There aren't really any other options for placing a port city that aren't at a similar lack of elevation.

[Starry Di]

arizona has earthquakes???

you learn something new every day.
I assume. I don't know :$ I assume based on the fact that it's near California.


Um... because New Orleans was founded specifically where it was to serve as a major port city for the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico.

There aren't really any other options for placing a port city that aren't at a similar lack of elevation.
So build a new port there, and make it not a city...just a port. And move New Orleans.

[Isil Darkmoon]

So build a new port there, and make it not a city...just a port. And move New Orleans.

Seriously, how do you recommend "just a port, not a city" be built? All our major ports are also cities. They have to be. There is so much manpower needed between the physical handling of cargo, warehousing goods, reshipping goods, clerical paperwork, customs, around the clock, etc that its' impossible.

The type of people who work port jobs are generally bluecollar workers who cannot in any way afford to live elsewhere, cannot afford a car or gas to commute an hour each way each day to their jobs--and that's what it would take, how far they'd need to go, at LEAST, to be out of harm's way weatherwise.

There is NO feasable way to get the needed manpower in and out of a major port, day in and day out, without having them live nearby.

[~Anamorata~]

We have Port Columbus here, and that's not by a major river...when I said move it, I meant further from the river, but still near enough to still be the port it was intended. Sorry for the confusion. :antennae:

[Kaylara]

It makes sense to me not for them to rebuild it actually. They've known this was a posibility for years, it's happened before and will happen again. They are below sea level, in Hurricane alley, in a swamp. It's the makings of repeat disasters, and as has been mentioned, an environmental nightmare.

Conversely, I think that by living in a particular area you accept certain possibilities that are associated with living there... With California it's earthquakes, tsunami's, mudslides, and wildfires. In Florida it's Hurricanes, flooding, and the occassional wildfire. My point being that it's stupid to move to Alaska and complain about the snow. If you can't handle those things as a possibility then you move to some place where there are different conditions.

[Ruhiel]

It's not like the city was ever intentionally set up in a giant basin--much like Mexico City, no one knew what was underneat or how it would react.

Actually, it WAS originally built below sea level- The Vieux Carre was built on dry land, and as the city expanded the water was pumped out and contained behind the levees. The swamp was packed down with dirt carted in, bricks, and whatever else was available. The buildings have rods running through them with key-like bolts, so that when the walls begin to sag, they can turn the bolts and straighten them up again. New Orleans was built where a city was never intended to be built. There are dangers in that, and the levee system was only designed to withstand a category 3 hurricane.

[Madame De La Mort]

I know that the French Quater will never be the same. That is the part of New Orleans that I love the most.

[SilentDreams]

This is horrible! I hadn't even thought of the fact that N.O. was destroyed until now. I mean it was obvious I just hadn't focused on any of that being destroyed, just the poor people. But wow, we'll never get this place back, even if they rebuild, it won't be the same. Thats so very sad, such a neat and interesting part of america gone forever.

[Silvan]

arizona has earthquakes???

you learn something new every day.

Every place has earthquakes, I think. We had some over here on the east coast awhile back, and one in Virginia, I think. Little ones.

Here's an interesting one too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Fault_Zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Fault_Zone)

The New Madrid fault is a ticking time bomb. I read about this in a novel once. The premise was that some nutjob was trying to force this fault to blow, like Lex Luthor tried to do to the San Andreas in Superman.

It's all a lot of speculation, but if this thing should let go in the worst case way, it could be a lot more devastating than Katrina. Nobody much was living there 200 years ago, but the area is hugely populated now, and the structures are not built to California standards.

[Silvan]

I wonder, seriously if anyone has ever thought of just letting the water in, and turning the city into something like Venice, Italy.

That's probably an insulting, retarded idea, but I can't help wondering.

[Lewen]

I wonder, seriously if anyone has ever thought of just letting the water in, and turning the city into something like Venice, Italy.

That's probably an insulting, retarded idea, but I can't help wondering.

I guess once the toxic soup is straightened out it might work. I think someone else posted that idea as well on another thread.

another ironic thing I thought of today...the popular phrase shouted during Mardi Gras, "Throw me something Mister!" in regards to beads....it takes on a whole new meaning now with those people shouting for water and food. My heart aches for N'awlins.

[MercysFallen]

The French Quarter held up well with little damage. It's because it is on the lip of the "soup bowl" It's have survived wars and fires. That part of the city will never die!

Ren

[Starry Di]

I guess once the toxic soup is straightened out it might work.
Ick. But...this is gonna happen again and again and again. And if it's a port city, we're defidently gonna keep having problems until we know how to edit people's DNA without hurting them and either make people immune to everything, or able to have children immune to everything.

It's a *toxic* wasteland there, people. Why would you want to live there again? Yes, it will all be cleared away, but that doesn't mean it's going to be clean forever. And once it's all cleared away, that doesn't mean it's going to be safe forever. Even if you build the leeve's up for a catergory 5 hurricane, eventually they will break as all things tend to do. Eventually, they will need to be repaired. And when the city goes to ask for money to repair them, the government will probably say something like "We don't want to spend tax dollars on New Orleans, it'll all be fine." which you know...they already have done before (http://www.livejournal.com/users/captainsblog/181602.html).

Why would you want your children living in a place that used to be a toxic wasteland? Think about all they didn't know a hundred years ago that we know now. Now think about the things we *could* know in a hundred years that we *don't* know now. What if those things are in the current New Orleans? What if those things remain in the Very New Orleans? Do you really want to *risk* your life or your children's lives being exposed to that?

[Xander67]

The problem with the flooding was due to the Levee breach.... The levee was built to withstand a cat 3 storm... a category 5 storm hitting NOLA was at that time considered a RARE occurance...

That being said, we now know that is a MYTH, and that category 5 storms Can and DO hit the gulf coast....

They saw what would happen, and now they can take that into consideration when they rebuild...

All this talk of not rebuilding is just destructive in my opinion...
The Govenor Of LA has demanded an appology from the White House Spokesperson for his comments earlier this week...

THere are lots of cities that exist along coastal areas that are well below sea level... that is what Engineers are for...

I am sure that some parts of the city will be designated as NO Build sections... but that will be done by people who know what they are talking about.... You are talking about re-zoning certain sections of the city that is currently Private property... you just cant do this... and frankly, I think the whole idea suggests that there is no hope, where there is hope....

Biloxi, Mobile, New Oreleans, Kenners, all of those areas will rebuild... you can knock down a building but it takes more than that to erase culture and history.

[Starry Di]

The problem with the flooding was due to the Levee breach.... The levee was built to withstand a cat 3 storm... a category 5 storm hitting NOLA was at that time considered a RARE occurance...

That being said, we now know that is a MYTH, and that category 5 storms Can and DO hit the gulf coast....

They saw what would happen, and now they can take that into consideration when they rebuild...

All this talk of not rebuilding is just destructive in my opinion...
The Govenor Of LA has demanded an appology from the White House Spokesperson for his comments earlier this week...

THere are lots of cities that exist along coastal areas that are well below sea level... that is what Engineers are for...

I am sure that some parts of the city will be designated as NO Build sections... but that will be done by people who know what they are talking about.... You are talking about re-zoning certain sections of the city that is currently Private property... you just cant do this... and frankly, I think the whole idea suggests that there is no hope, where there is hope....

Biloxi, Mobile, New Oreleans, Kenners, all of those areas will rebuild... you can knock down a building but it takes more than that to erase culture and history.
If they're gonna rebuild, then I hope they do that thing where they move the city *above* sea level this time. Like 30 feet like some other place that they did that for.

[Spera]

They should not rebuild. To rebuild is just stubbornness and unsafe. Losing these lives is damn well not worth it.

[Penthesilea]

The problem with the flooding was due to the Levee breach.... The levee was built to withstand a cat 3 storm... a category 5 storm hitting NOLA was at that time considered a RARE occurance...

That being said, we now know that is a MYTH, and that category 5 storms Can and DO hit the gulf coast....

They saw what would happen, and now they can take that into consideration when they rebuild...

All this talk of not rebuilding is just destructive in my opinion...
The Govenor Of LA has demanded an appology from the White House Spokesperson for his comments earlier this week...

THere are lots of cities that exist along coastal areas that are well below sea level... that is what Engineers are for...

I am sure that some parts of the city will be designated as NO Build sections... but that will be done by people who know what they are talking about.... You are talking about re-zoning certain sections of the city that is currently Private property... you just cant do this... and frankly, I think the whole idea suggests that there is no hope, where there is hope....

Biloxi, Mobile, New Oreleans, Kenners, all of those areas will rebuild... you can knock down a building but it takes more than that to erase culture and history.If I remember my geography classes correctly, most of the Netherlands is below sea level and is kept dry and inhabitable by dikes. Should that nation be abandoned because it is below sea level??

[Spera]

That's not the point. No matter what people do. Mother nature will win out. The land is contaminated. Mother nature is more powerful than anything we can build. More tradgedies will develop. More people will die. It's bloody well not worth it so a few people can show there tits in the French quarter to get some beads.

[Willow Rosette]

Mother Nature will win in the end anyway. And even if they did move the city some other yahoo would just come along and build something new there anyway. I saw rebuild stronger and safer but knowing what the potential is. And evacuate next time.

[ShamanFeather]

The water took lives, homes, property, and land. We knew when we took that land that the water to which was the land's mistress could come back, though we made a bet it wouldn't. Let the water have the land, clean the water. Use the funds in the best ways to make sure the survivors have homes, somewhere, and help them till they can find jobs. The Earth change, this is a change, if it happened to me and they pumped the water out or built again below sea level nearby, I'd move somewhere else. If for no other reason I'd be scared it would happen again.

[SapphireGypsy]

It took HOMES that's exactly it.... HOMES, people's lives and their history. The history of the city itself is unlike most other American cities and the spirit of it as well. What makes up that spirit is the people and they are not going to be TOLD "Ooops sorry its a waste to fix this but here we will offer you this lovely insignificant bit of property that IS worth our time, there we've done our part have a nice day." I know from New Orleans natives, Its not going to fly. They will rebuild. New Orleans was BUILT been below sea level and they have been through floods upon floods upon floods before, maybe not quite as bad but they'll straighten up, go back, adapt and handle it,and be better prepared for the next one. New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in the country they have survived THIS long. It seems rather arrogant for this generation of folks to decide they have the right to make the decision to wipe all that away.

Someone earlier in the post said it and I'm going to repeat it The spirit of New Orleans is not that easily broken.

[Sun Sprite]

Actually, the government can declare the city a disaster area, condemn it, and take all the private propety it needs to to keep people safe. Of course, they should give the peple money for, probably more than the contaminated lake is worth now, but enough to start over in a new, dryer place.

I saw New Orleans once, and have no desire to see it again. I watch the educational shows about it, and they are nice. But the city I saw was NOT pretty. It was dirty, poverty, and showed a lcak of trust in anyone driving by on the streets. The town is a town of history. It is no longer a town, it is now a lake. Nature determined it should be a lake a long time ago, and humans fought nature.

There are a lot of man made lakes in this country, built so humans have a near by water source in dry regions. People there fought the governments, and they didn't back down, they confiscated the land. When nature makes a decesion, there is no fighting back. She won't listen.

[Galaxia]

Ω

[Starry Di]

I don't think the whole city should be abondoned (like mentioned... the French Quarter is still existant for the most part) but some of it I think is probably fit to be reclaimed by nature. Its not anyones fault that the city has been sinking (like Venice) but its going to continue to sink because of the weight of the buildings and who knows what else on it. Lets face it; in another few hundred years, New Orleans will probably be in the same category as the lost city of Atlantis. It would make more sense to rebuild the bulk of the city on higher ground... still close to the original area, but build things like residential up there so that the "cereal bowl effect" won't flood people in a big hole, at least for the next 100-200 years.

Don't get me wrong, New Orleans can probably be completely salvaged if people work hard enough for it, but that kind of change won't be complete for a long long time. N.O. residents have lives and making them wait for N.O. to be completely drained and rebuilt so that they can continue their lives just seems a little silly to me.

But then again what do I know about anything.

True. The people of New Orleans are all optimistic. From what I've read, they're thinking they'll go back to their homes in a couple of weeks. It's a toxic wasteland, it's gonna take at least a year or two in order to make it safe enough to be habitale again. And I don't know about you, but I don't want *my* tax dollars going to people (who used to live in New Orleans) in replacement of a job/home for a whole year.

I probably phrased that incorrectly, so let me explain. I don't want to pay for them to just sit around at home, eating bon-bons watching TV. I have *no* problem paying to get them a new home, and get them settled in a new place, but after that, I want them to get a job and start paying for their home on their own. I don't want to give them a "free ride" after they are established elsewhere.

[Exloration_La]

Not that I know anything, but logically I see a huge mess, and just thinking It would seem to me that cleaning up and rebuilding the city would take more energy then taking the city and moving it more inland and rebuilding on new turf and starting fresh might even cost less money and be better in the long run since it will probably be at risk once again in the future, so unfortunately so me it seems like it might be a waste to rebuild there???????? Any ways just my thoughts